Abstract: Basic soil properties of forest-fitting land along river banks in semiarid region were studied with correspondence and multiple regression analyses, which showed that soil physical and chemical properties were mainly affected by soil texture.The organic matter content, CaCO₃ content, conductivity and field water-holding capacity were positively correlated with the content of medium and fine particles in soil mechanical composition.The dominant factors affecting forest growth were soil texture, underground water level, and available soil depth, and the last two factors were classified by means of optimal cutting method.In considering of the local specific conditions with the grading combination of the dominant factors, the forest-fitting land along river banks was classified into 20 site types, and the site quality was comprehensively evaluated by multiple species.

Key words: Semiarid region, Forest fitting land along river banks, Site conditions, urban expansion, vegetation, Hangzhou Bay area, night-light data, NDVI